Friday, February 28, 2014

I participated in an Ambassador Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Lay's. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Although the snack food cravings around here vary, there is something special about the classic taste and crunch of a good potato chip. The sweet saltiness and the way that the crispiness crackles and breaks as you munch... mmmmmmmm.

Even better, the wide variety of flavors available for chips pretty much ensures that everyone who reaches into a bag can be provided with their own personal favorite. Spicy? Sour? Extra salty? Cheesy? They're all out there.

But, even though we all have our own preferences, have you ever looked at your chips and thought that they could be even better if they came in a flavor that doesn't yet exist? Now is the perfect time to do something about it and possibly turn your potato chip dreams into reality with the the Lay's "Do Us A Flavor" contest!

Inviting fans nationwide to submit their ideas for the next great Lay's potato chip flavor, the "Do Us A Flavor" contest not only provides a way to show off your creativity and culinary skills, but also comes with the chance to win a $1 million grand prize (see complete rules here)!

Simply visit DoUsAFlavor.com, select between the three potato chip forms – Lay's Original, Lay's Kettle Cooked and/or Lay's Wavy – and submit your flavor ideas. From there, a judging panel made up of chefs, foodies and flavor experts will narrow down the contest submissions to four finalist flavors.

The four finalist flavors will then be fully developed by Frito-Lay's culinary experts and unveiled in summer 2014 and sold nationwide. Then it will be up to fans to vote for the finalist flavor they want to see stay on store shelves, and the finalist behind the winning flavor will take home the million dollar grand prize (again, see complete rules here)!

The options are truly endless!

Are you inspired yet?

While I managed to come up with a variety of flavors that I wanted to try (most of them including chocolate as an ingredient), hearing Big Sister E ask for her favorite dinner night after night made this recipe come to mind not only as a beloved dish, but as a possible chip as well.

Baked Nachos

Ingredients

Tortilla Chips (we prefer the ones shaped like a little bowl, as they "hold" the rest of the ingredients better)
1 can Black Beans, drained and rinsed
1 can Corn, drained
2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Toppings of your choice, such as tomatoes, green onions, sour cream, guacamole and more

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°. Line a 11" x 13" pan with tortilla chips and, using a spoon, fill each chip with a few of the black beans.

Repeat with corn and then sprinkle 1 cup of the cheese over the top.

Repeat with a second layer of chips, beans, corn and cheese directly on top of this layer.

Cook in preheated oven for 10 minutes. During this time, prepare toppings.

Use a large, slotted spoon to serve these while hot, allowing each person to top their plate of baked nachos exactly as they wish. Each one ends up its own little bit of cheesy goodness!

The hardest part about submitting this to the Lay's "Do Us A Flavor" contest would be selecting only three ingredients to go into the chips! Cheddar would have to be included, as well as the black beans and corn.

But what about the sweetness of the salsa or the guacamole that we often add on top? And I adore cilantro on pretty much everything, but would that have to be left off? So many choices! So much stomach growling!

While I ponder over our own family favorite, start thinking of what recipe you would like turned into a yummy potato chip flavor and head over to DoUsAFlavor.com and enter it today!

Simply come up with the flavor name, up to three ingredients, the chip style and a brief description – this contest ends on April 5th, 2014, don't miss out!

Although there are plenty of sayings out there that hold truth, one that resonates strongly with me is Seeing is Believing.

It's not that I necessarily won't believe that things are okay if I can't see so for myself, but let's just say that I'm a bit of a worrier. And a skeptic. And a pessimist (although I prefer to say realist instead).

Do I need to stop watching the news and fretting that the bad things happening across the country (and all over the world) will occur to my family? Definitely. But, at the same time, I can also relieve my uneasiness as much as possible by proving to myself that all is fine and well anytime and anywhere thanks to the WatchBot.

Combining convenience, security and piece of mind into one innovative, affordable product, the WatchBot is a CCTV unit for the home or office that is easy enough for anyone to use yet provides the quality of a much more expensive item.

No matter if you purchase it to watch your sleeping child, keep an eye on the dog while at work or simply feel reassured when your family goes out of town, this wireless home security camera will enable you to keep an eye on what's important.

After seeing just how ideal the WatchBot is for indoor use and how the live video can be viewed straight from a web-enabled desktop PC, Mac, laptop or mobile device, I was ready to try it in my home as well.

Arriving after a long trip from the UK, I unpacked the WatchBot box and found a power adapter, wall mounting kit, Ethernet cable, user guide, software and the camera itself.

Using the simple instructions in the user manual, it wasn't long before I had plugged in the WatchBot camera and connected it to my router with the supplied Ethernet cable (it can also operate wirelessly).

Heading back to my computer, it was only another few minutes before I had downloaded the WatchBot desktop software and was ready to control my camera. Using the individual username, password and camera ID (conveniently located on the camera itself), I was soon able to see right into the girls' play room without any problem.

But more than simply a camera that is placed (or mounted) in one spot and the view is the same over and over, I love that the WatchBot features pan and tilt functionality. Simply by using the controls on your PC or your mobile device, you're able to to remotely direct and control the camera's viewing angle for a better look.

While my first attempt at surveillance turned out blurry...

...it didn't take too long before I realized the ability to focus was done simply by turning the dial on the front of the camera itself.

Soon I was able to see, hear and speak as clearly with my kids as if I was in the room with them!

With one click in the Preferences tab, I was also able to change my view to the single camera (as opposed to having the screen set for four) or change to a complete fullscreen mode.

Fantastic!

But this is one gadget that can do much more. As well as moving and controlling the angle of the camera, the WatchBot also includes a slew of other great features that can be controlled from the user-friendly interface.

My kids think it is magic when they see the camera move all by itself as I pan around the room or talk directly through it!

The two-way audio gives you the option to listen in, and communicate with, whoever is on the other side of the camera, the built-in infra red sensors provide clear night vision, and the motion sensor can be set to send an alarm to your mobile phone (including screen shots) notifying you that motion has been detected.

Whether you are using your WatchBot on your PC to see your children playing in another room or are pulling out your cell phone to take a quick peek at Fido on your phone while you are out to eat, the ability to watch (and record) live footage can provide a feeling of security that is unlike any other!

To find out much more about the WatchBot and how it compares to (and excels over) other CCTV cameras, visit WatchBotCamera.com.

Currently, a single camera retails for $237.95 while other deals are also available that include two, four or even nine cameras included. This just might be the security you are looking for for your home or business!

Other than the WatchBot camera I was provided in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this product.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

On nearly any given day, you could walk into my house and find at least one item waiting to have its batteries replaced. Inconspicuously, this item will wait on a counter or a ledge or on a side table until enough days have passed (and my husband has asked, What's this doing here? multiple times) that I have had enough.

Is it difficult to change batteries in toys, electronics or gadgets? Not particularly. Is it time-consuming? Not really. So what is it about the process that irks me right to my core? Why do I find myself gritting my teeth and preparing for a huge hassle when I pick up a remote control, camera or toy car and find that it doesn't work yet again?

Fortunately, Energizer has eliminated much of the time, energy, money and chore from replacing batteries again and again in our high-tech devices thanks to their long-lasting, high performance Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries.

While Energizer has long stood behind their incredible Ultimate Lithium batteries, they are now truly able to put their money where their mouth is thanks to the one and only Consumer Reports. Published in this year's January issue, the company tested 15 popular AA battery brands in high tech devices to see which would reign supreme.

The results? Energizer Ultimate Lithium AAs were the clear winner (the report can be found here)!

Along with being recognized by Consumer Reports, Energizer is proud to boast that their Ultimate Lithium AA batteries:

Last up to 9x longer than Energizer MAX AA batteries in digital cameras (which translates into saving money as well as providing less waste).

Are 33% lighter than ordinary alkaline batteries.

Hold power for up to 20 years when not in use.

Perform well in extreme temperatures (from -40° F to 140° F).

Would you really prefer to continue to purchase and replace, purchase and replace, purchase and replace instead?

When it comes to the difference that Energizer Ultimate Lithium make around our household, I don't think that I could be any more pleased with how these batteries have performed time and again.

Whether we're reaching for a handheld gaming console to pass the time, a digital camera to capture a memory or a flashlight to ward off the scary darkness in the corners of the basement, I love knowing that we can grab and go and not have to worry that our gear won't work or will run out of juice after a few minutes.

I have to admit that I don't usually believe much of the hype or promotion that brands print on their packaging, but Energizer can truly back up their words with the performance and proven quality of their batteries!

Energizer has been a leader in battery innovation for more than half a century and continues to deliver the results consumers have come to expect from their products. The recent Consumer Reports findings of the superiority of their Ultimate Lithium batteries is just Energizer once again proving that they are committed to providing only the very best!

If you are looking for the world's longest lasting AAs for your high-tech devices, the Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries retail for $9.99 for a 4-pack. And, while this cost might be a few dollars more than the original, they really are worth it for the superior quality and longer amount of time that they last.

And, thanks to the generosity of Energizer, one person will be able to find out for themselves just how powerful these batteries truly are, because...

A big thank you to Energizer for providing Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries for me as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

In my ideal morning, I wake up well-rested and happily go into the kitchen with plenty of time to make a full, nutritious, filling breakfast for my family (who then proceed to eat it cheerfully and politely).

In reality, even though I know that breakfast is an important start to the day, the time spent before my children head off to school and my husband goes to work is rushed, a bit hectic, and filled with stress and monotony. The same hurried bowl of cereal or toasted bagel is eaten (with multiple reminders) while the same lunch is packed before everyone piles out the door with no time to spare.

So where is the happy medium? How can breakfast be more creative and fun, yet not involve complex recipes and hours of extra time?

The answer can be found from one of our favorite retailers, Target, with their ideas for incorporating simple changes to traditional breakfasts in the Target Breakfast Twist Project.

Easy, delicious meal ideas that anyone can recreate, the Target Breakfast Twist Project is all about putting new twists on classic favorites. With recipes that take anywhere from 2 — 35 minutes (with the majority taking 10 minutes or less), each one includes ingredients that the whole family know and love.

I love the variety and creativity in these recipes! We've got peanut butter, apples and granola, but would I have ever thought to combine them with a little honey and cinnamon to make these amazing Peanut Butter Apple Rings?

While I don't consider myself quite as inventive as Target, when we received a selection of yummy foods, I was inspired to attempt to create our own unique spins on breakfast.

Although I had some ideas for the Nature Valley Protein Granola, Big Sister E laid claim to that bag as soon as she saw it and managed to devour it all on its own. It's one of her favorites!

However, it didn't take long before we had used many of the remaining ingredients to come up with unique, tasty and quick ways to add a little twist to our breakfasts around here.

First up, we combined the Nature Valley Granola Bars with the Nutella mini cups and some blueberries for a fruity, chocolatey, crunchy way to start the morning.

I love how quick and easy these were to make, yet what a difference they made for my kids! No complaints about anything being boring when these are around!

Next, we took a few more minutes to make a crunchy, sticky, flavorful snack by mixing Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch cereal and Jif peanut butter into peanut butter balls.

These were a little ooey gooey to make, but once we chilled them in the fridge for a little while, they were good to go!

Finally, my kids are huge fans of smoothies, so I decided to try something new and include Quaker Oats in with the frozen fruit, milk and yogurt.

I added a few dashes of cinnamon along with the vanilla yogurt, mixed frozen fruit and milk and blended until smooth, but I honestly wasn't sure how this smoothie would turn out. Fortunately, after a few sips, Little Sister B quickly declared it her favorite so I'll be sure to make it again!

We've already got plans to try Grandma Hoerner's Big Slice apples snack in a tasty parfait and, if my kids don't eat them all with milk, we'll see what we can come up with to add a twist to the Trix cereal!

Can your family's breakfast ideas use a little creativity? Be sure to head over to Target.com/BreakfastTwist to find tons of tasty inspiration as well as special savings on many of their delicious products!

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

When it comes to having a "sweet tooth," there are a variety of different views and opinions from researchers and studies performed over the years.

One idea is that there are actual sweet-receptor genes that can predict a preference for sweets. On the other hand, it has been said that the human brain senses which foods are high in calories and therefore rewards people by releasing hormones to make them happier (and wanting more).

Whichever theory is true (or if it is actually a different one entirely), my genes or my brain are definitely on board. You have sweets? Give me sweets. Sweeeeeeets.

Unfortunately for my cravings, however, experts recommend women consume no more than six teaspoons of added sugar a day...yet the average American eats 22 teaspoons daily! Most of us even vastly underestimate the amount of sugar we eat because the sweet stuff is hiding in some of our favorite foods and beverages, like vanilla lattes, fruit flavored yogurt, salad dressing and cereal.

I know that there are people out there that manage to cut sugar from their diet, but I couldn't handle a drastic change like that. Instead, I am happy knowing that just about anywhere I love to enjoy sugar, I can instead love Splenda No Calorie Sweetener!

A no-calorie sweetener that can be used as part of a healthy diet to reduce the calories and carbohydrates from sugar that you consume, Splenda first made its way into our house when I began reaching for a single yellow packet each morning for my coffee.

This unique substance starts with sugar and is converted into a no-calorie, non-carbohydrate sweetener... resulting in something that tastes like sugar, but without its calories.

No calories and no carbohydrates but with the same sweet flavor? Count me in!

However, while I've always used Splenda to sweeten my morning brew, I've also been interested for quite some time as to where else in my life it could help to eliminate excess sugar from my diet.

Splenda has easily answered that query (and more) now that they are dishing out 365 ways to swap sugar for Splenda Sweetener Products at 365SweetSwaps.com.

Filled with tips and recipes to help you save calories from added sugar all year long, I love that the Sweet Swaps site makes it so simple and easy to incorporate Splenda into more areas of my life.

Their Mix Ahead Hot Cocoa is one recipe that my kids would surely adore through the rest of this cold winter (all the while never knowing that it has less sugar than their usual)...

...and their variety of salsa recipes have my mouth watering. Pass the chips!

Along with all of the great tips and ideas at 365SweetSwaps.com, Splenda has a whole collection of great recipes on their website to turn to in order to lessen your family's calorie intake in 2014. What will you make next?

With so many great ways to swap sugar for Splenda Sweetener Products, it's time to celebrate! Join The Motherhood and Splenda for a #SweetSwaps Twitter Party filled with tips, recipes and other simple lifestyle changes that can lead to big results over time!

Prizes: Prizes will be randomly awarded to five participants who answer
the trivia questions correctly. Each prize includes a $50 Visa gift card
and an assortment of Splenda Sweetener Products (prizes limited to
U.S. participants only)!

I hope to see you next Tuesday! In the meantime, be sure to visit Splenda.com to find out more about their full line of products and head over to 365SweetSwaps.com to be inspired in all sorts of ways to use them!

Disclosure͗: This post is part of the SPLENDA® 365 Sweet Swaps™ Blogger Program by McNeil Nutritionals, LLC and The Motherhood, who sent me products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are my own, and I hope you enjoy them.

Monday, February 24, 2014

For the majority of us across the country, this winter has been long and cold. I know there are some people that have been enjoying the snow and chill, but I'm beyond ready for the freezing temps to move on.

In the meantime, I appreciate that are ways that I (and all other busy women) everywhere can fit in a little zen-like pampering as a way to provide that elusive calm, relaxing feeling that we all desire during this stressful season.

Although my schedule (and wallet) might not allow me to spend every week at the spa, that doesn't mean that I can't have the same experience right at home thanks to Bath Soap Express.

A trusted source for bath soap bars, body lotion, shower gels, and more, Bath Soap Express provides the most luxurious bath products in conjunction with only the best pricing and service available.

Launched in 2010, BathSoapExpress.com pride themselves on providing customers with everything from face and skin care to San Francisco Soap Company bars to linen sprays — and everything in between.

Considering that I am an instant fan of any company that states "We believe that every person deserves a little bit of pampering - moms especially!" I was happy to begin browsing at Bath Soap Express to find out more about a few of their favorite products.

Due to the amount of stress and irritation you put your skin through on a daily basis, doesn't it deserve a little indulgence? Bath Soap Express thinks so and their selection of Body Butters are just the thing to turn that dry and unhealthy feeling into a smooth, soothed, scented softness.

I love that BathSoapExpress.com offers citrus as well as floral scents so that every shopper can select their favorite, and that a full 8oz container of body butter is made in the USA and retails for an affordable $6.99.

Taking the fight against bathroom odors to the next level, Poo-Pourri Deodorizers are the hilarious-but-effective air fresheners and spray toilet items that ensure that you never again experience the embarrassment of leaving a bathroom or public restroom in a less than stellar aromatic condition.

Simply spray before you go and the Natural Essential Oils create a film on the surface of the water, trapping odor at it's source. Instead of attempting to mask smells and ending up with a chemical odor that only lets everyone know you tried to hide it, Poo-Pourri is the preventative bathroom solution that everyone needs (even if they claim that they don't)!Retailing for $14.95 for a 4oz bottle or $16.95 for a gift set (an organza bag containing Poo-Pourri cleverly tucked into the core of packaged toilet tissue), this is one product that ends up being practical and useful while also having a humorous and unique twist!

Finally, when it comes to relaxation and cleansing your mind as well as your body, is there anything better than a soothing bath with a moisturizing bath bar? San Francisco Soap Bars are known for being created using only the finest ingredients and producing fragrances that can only be called radiant.

Bath Soap Express has the perfect selection of scents to pamper your skin for daily use or for a special stress-free bath occasion. And, priced at only $2.75 per bar, don't you (or your gift recipient) deserve it?

With such a wide variety of high quality products and exceptional service, Bath Soap Express is sure to wow you with the incredible overall experience they provide. Luxurious products plus employees that do everything it takes to give customers the satisfaction they deserve?

Are you ready to indulge in some pampering? Whether you prefer lotions, shower gels, handcrafted soaps or more, one person will be able to choose their own way of relaxing or have a great gift to share, because...

One lucky person will win a $25 gift certificate to Bath Soap Express!

A big thank you to Bath Soap Express for providing a gift certificate for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Friday, February 21, 2014

While my husband and I have a slew of similarities in various aspects of our life, one area in which we couldn't differ any further is packing.

He is one of those people who smartly plans ahead, putting his clothes into crisp, tidy piles days before the flight. He'll bring exactly the right number of shirts and pants, have his socks tucked into his shoes to take up less space and nearly always remembers every necessity.

I, on the other hand, don't pack until the night before because what if I want to wear those clothes? Then I lay out items by outfits in conjunction with each day and what I'll be doing, which is logical, right?

But then I'll grab a few extras things just in case, and maybe an extra sweater (what if it's cold in July?) and it couldn't hurt to have another few pairs of shoes or an extra shirt because sometimes I don't like the way that shirt looks on me...

The end result is not pretty, not to mention pretty much 0% convenient, and causes me stress when I get to my destination and have to dig through everything every day to find what I need.

A leading designer and manufacturer of high quality, user friendly digital scales, I've long been a fan of EatSmart's accurate and reliable scales and make it a point to never get on an airplane without my EatSmart Precision Voyager Luggage Scale.

So, after our past positive experiences with EatSmart, I had fairly high expectations for the TravelWise Packing Cubes even before they arrived.

This set of Small (11.5" x 6.75" x 3.75"), Medium (13.75" x 9.75" x 3.75") and Large (17.5" x 12.75" x 4") cubes is constructed of high-quality nylon fabric and is lightweight yet plenty durable to hold up to the ins and outs of travel.

Each cube features two way easy-pull zippers, so quickly compartmentalizing your items by size, category or more doesn't take more than a few seconds. All that is left to do is to stay organized on both short and long travels!

These really couldn't have been designed to be much easier! I love that now when I pack I can easily separate my items into each of the cubes (outfits in the largest, undergarments and pajamas in the middle size, and accessories into the smallest) and have no problem laying everything inside and zipping them up.

While I appreciate that the open mesh design of these cubes makes it easy to locate items without endless searching, I also love just how much they eliminate my typical toss-and-shove-items-to-the-side method while traveling.

All I have to do is place each of the TravelWise Packing Cubes into my suitcase and, upon arrival, I move them into the hotel room drawers in a matter of seconds.

The result is that I'm nearly unpacked... without actually unpacking. I'm able to pull out the items that I need each day without the endless digging down into the depths of my suitcase. Pajamas? In this cube! Swimsuit? Right in this cube!

Plus, just at how much room these cubes save by condensing my clothes down into each little compartment!

Each time I've used these great Packing Cubes I'm pleased with the way that items don't shift around during my travels, plus the way that any items that had been ironed before packing stayed much smoother than if they had been directly in the suitcase.

As an added bonus, when it comes time to head home, I simply move the remaining unworn items into the smallest cube, fill the two larger ones with clothes to be washed, and pop them all back into my suitcase. When I arrive back to my house, I can then just grab the "dirty" cubes by their convenient handles, bring them right to the washing machine and I'm ready to move on with life.

Plus, due to how compact and flexible these cubes are when not in use, once they are emptied, they are able to store stacked inside each other and out of the way with ease — whether tucked into an empty suitcase, under the bed, in a drawer or more.

In all, I love the way that these TravelWise cubes would make a great gift for the frequent flyer, casual/weekend traveler, biker, backpacker and more who wants to simplify, straighten and streamline their packing or needs to utilize interior space to the max. They are able to eliminate the chaotic searches for particular items of clothing, keep everything organized and tidy, and really use luggage space to its fullest!

Currently available in purple and silver, the TravelWise Packing Cube System 3 Piece Weekender Set can easily make your next trip more manageable for $22.95 from Amazon.com. Find out more about this and all of EatSmart's innovative products by visiting their website and connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon be prepared to pack for their next trip in (organized) style, because...

One lucky person will win a TravelWise Packing Cube System 3 Piece Weekender Set from EatSmart!

A big thank you to EatSmart for providing TravelWise Packing Cubes for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll. Affiliate links are used in this post, thank you for supporting this blog.